Howard Happenings: May 2011

Kate had her language evaluation and drum-roll please...she is totally NORMAL. WHAT?! Yes, we have a typical and normal developing toddler. I still feel I did not overreact as I felt she appeared delayed in her language skills. But I must say that she has and is coming a long way in her language skills. Kate still needs to go to Ear, Nose, and Throat (ENT) due to the mild hearing loss which may be affecting her speech intelligibility. However, the speech pathologist was not too worried about Miss Kate. In fact, Miss Kate was so sweet, well mannered and fun during the assessment. She followed directions and wanted to play and interact with these two strangers who came to the house. Kate was so comfortable with them that when one of the ladies asked her to put a diaper on the baby she ran to her room and put a real diaper on the toy baby and came out with her bottoms off so that I could change her diaper. I also think she is getting ready for potty-training; unfortunately she is showing us all the signs and we have to buckle down and get serious with it soon! We bought her "Once Upon a Potty", which now comes with interactive buttons that make flushing noises. Kate likes to open the book to the page with "poo-poo" in the pot and of course say, "pooooooo-poooooo" and pushes the flushing button. When she needs a diaper change she will take off her pants and diaper (yes, sometimes even with poop in it) and brings us a diaper (at times) or just runs around the house naked. A funny sight to see, except when she has poop and I am checking everything to make sure there are no stinky surprises for me.

So back to the language part, at 26 months of age Kate is putting 2-3 words sentences together, sometimes even more. She still loves Yo Gabba Gabba and names all of the characters and even has a "Brobee" doll. Our love for Yo Gabba Gabba is such that we are taking Kate to see them LIVE in San Diego in November (Nana Delia, Mimi Linda and I). Kate is getting into Olivia and her Mimi bought her a miniature Olivia doll and she loves "leeveeyaa". I feel as though the tantrums are not as bad either since she can now communicate with us with words and express her needs and wants more. Don't get me wrong, she is still a pain (sorry Kate but you will understand when you have a kid of your own) but far more manageable now that the screaming, grunting, pointing and pouting are being replaced with words. She is just getting to be more enjoyable and there are more laughable moments. Such as when we pass McDonald's and every single time she sees it she screams "nonolds!!!!!" or we pass the pool and she says "POOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOL". Milk is "nilk" and we have progressed from "mamma" and "dadda" to "mommy" and "daddy". She is even counting to 10, with assistance of course ~ thanks to Mimi! Our little girl is growing up so fast before are eyes and it makes me sad, but I look forward what the next day will bring us.

I don't have pictures to match this blog, but here is a recent outing to the park ~ notice pigtails? It is a hassle at times (still) to comb Kate's hair but she is slowly letting me do it!